Crazy Thing (The Brighton Family #5)

Chapter 27

27

ZIGGY

A s we step into the charity gala, I’m far too distracted to appreciate the beauty of the glamorous ballroom. It’s gorgeous, I’m sure. But I’m lost in my head, thinking about Darius’s palm that’s resting at the small of my back.

And he called me ‘stunning’. No, not just stunning. Absolutely stunning.

That was at least an hour ago.But seriously, I don’t think I’ve even blinked since that moment.

I’m thinking too hard, not paying attention to my movements. That’s how I trip over my own feet.

Darius’s arm loops around my back, his fingers flexing on the curve of my hip. “You okay?” he asks, his brow crinkled with concern.

Unwilling to admit that he’s the one who’s got me tangled up in knots, I glance around at the elegant ballroom and the crowd of wealthy people. “I think I’m a little out of place here. I feel like an awkward alien, trying to learn the ways of the humans.” I chuckle softly.

On second thought, ‘out of place’ is a huge understatement. With my colorful hair and my second-hand dress, I clearly don’t belong in this crowd of sleek classic chignons and designer evening gowns. And they’re staring. All these people are staring.

Darius’s brown-eyed gaze searches my body again and it feels like honey dripping down my skin. “Fuck them all. You’re the most beautiful woman in the room.”

He gazes at me for so long, I’m afraid he’s going to kiss me again. And somehow, at the same time, I’m hoping he’ll do exactly that. Which makes absolutely no freaking sense. How can I be scared of something and want it so badly it hurts?

“Stop saying things you don’t mean,” I hear myself whisper, lost in his honey irises.

His voice is a low, intimate rasp. “I mean it, Ziggy.”

My shaky palm leaps to my diaphragm. I’m finding it hard to breathe.

He wraps his fingers around mine. “Come on, pretty alien. Let’s go find Robert Ross.”

Hands locked together, I trail alongside Darius in a haze.

What the heck?! Isn’t this the same guy who basically turned up his nose at me sixteen years ago? The same guy who was embarrassed to be seen in public with me less than twenty-four hours after the first time he kissed me? The same guy whoseems borderline offended by my free-spirited lifestyle?

This makes zero sense.

Because he’s also the same man who took it upon himself to pay off my rent even after I chased him off with a witch’s broom. The man who got jealous just because someone else flirted with me at a pool party. The man who is currently holding my hand in a room full of bonafide socialites and business tycoons .

Even still, I’ve decided that this all means nothing. I’m still having a hard time trusting Darius’s intentions.

It’s not until I hear someone call his name that I finally snap back to attention.

This isn’t a date. This is a work event.Despite the handsome devil at my side, holding my hand.

“Brighton. Over here.” I glance up and notice a group of attractive couples forming a tight circle at the bottom of the sweeping staircase. A tall, striking man with dark wavy hair motions Darius over.

I try to release his hand and slink off into the crowd, but he maintains his grip as he takes me along with him. What is happening here?

My anxiety eases slightly when I catch sight of a familiar face in the group. Meghan is waving excitedly at me from where she’s tucked against Cash’s side.

Darius greets all of the couples in turn. Then he makes sure to introduce me to them all. There’s Liam Kline and his wife, Eliza. Then, I meet Cannon and Lexi Kingston. Also, Reuben and Isla Barre. And then I meet a king and queen—an actual king and queen. King Xavier and his wife, Sadie, are the real life monarchs of the island of Ridgeland. What the actual fuck?

Darius turns to me, his confident smile prouder than I’ve ever seen it before. “This is my assistant, Ziggy.”

“Your assistant?” Liam Kline asks, inclining his chin to motion to our joined hands.

I try to slip out of Darius’s grip but he only holds on tighter, causing his friends to laugh.

“I know that look,” Liam leans close to Darius, speaking low but not low enough. “That’s how it starts. One day, she’s your assistant. Then before you know it, you’ve put a ring on her finger and she’s blessed you with two kids. ”

My stomach flutters at that.

“Oh, stop it.” Eliza elbows him in the ribs, speaking out the side of her mouth. “You’re making the poor girl blush.”

She gently loops her arm through mine and pulls me away from the group. Her girlfriends swoop in, turning their backs on their husbands.

Meghan beams at me. “My gosh, Zig. I had no idea you’d be here. You look so beautiful.”

Before I can return the compliment, she’s telling me all about her friends. The girls are absolutely lovely, making me question all my stereotypes about billionaire wives.

Just a few moments later, Isla is inviting me to visit her yoga and meditation center in Reyfield and Lexi is suggesting that I bring Daphne to her second hand bridal boutique in Crescent Harbor. There’s no weirdness, no sense that I don’t belong. The women are welcoming and curious about my metaphysical shop and about my job with Darius.

I get so caught up in our conversation that I almost forget what I’m even doing here at this gala. But then, a particular face catches my attention.

“That’s him,” I say to Darius, leaning in closely when I spot an older gentleman that matches the photos I’ve acquired. “That’s Robert Ross.”

Before I can ask Darius what he’s going to say, he excuses himself from the group of young billionaires and stalks off. Hobbling after him, I struggle to keep up as he makes a beeline for the waterfall’s owner.

“Hello, Mr. Ross,” Darius is already stating by the time I catch up. “Darius Brighton. I know you’re the owner of the waterfall property in Starlight Falls. You probably don’t know, but Edison—the guy you’re about to sell to—he’s an imbecile. So I’m here to take the property off your hands. You just need to tell the court I’ll be acquiring the land instead of Edison.”

I groan inwardly. Well, damn .

Definitely not the most tactful approach. Okay, fine. Let’s be real—he just crashed and burned.

If I hadn’t spent the entire ride here gushing over a boy calling me ‘stunning’, I would have had the sense to make Darius practice his lines in the car.

I stand here, silently hoping that both of these wealthy men speak the same rich asshole language. But I can almost immediately tell that’s not the case. Robert Ross’s face says it all.

“Excuse me?” The man rears back, looking affronted for being approached like this. Especially at a charity event.

It’s clear Robert isn’t taking Darius’s demands well. In fact, the way he’s glaring right now makes me worried that he’s about to risk it all and hit my ill-mannered boss.

I think it’s fair to say that Robert is not interested in doing business with Darius and people are beginning to stare. “Who the fuck do you think you are? Talking to me like that? I don’t have time for—”

Before things go completely off the rails, I shoulder my way into the middle of the conversation, in full charm mode.Because after all the work I’ve done to get us here, I’m not going to let Darius and his ego blow this conversation tonight.

“Hello there, Mr. Ross. I’m Ziggy Beaumont, and I’m honored to meet you.” I extend my arm.

He hesitates. He peeks at my boobs. Then he finally shakes my hand.

Ew .

Even still, I push forward. “I was so impressed by your donation tonight. Your generosity will undoubtedly help so many children,” I say graciously.

The man beams at me, standing a little taller. “Thank you, dear. This charity is a special one to me and my family. I grew up in a single parent household and it’s important to me to make an impact where it’s needed.”

“Oh, this charity is important to Mr. Brighton, too! He was getting ready to put in his donation for the night. You know, I’m sure he’d be willing to put it in under your name instead of his own.”

Meanwhile, I feel Darius bristling behind me.

I turn, smiling sweetly. “Would you like to grab us some drinks?” I suggest with a wink. I don’t think Darius likes being dismissed, but he looks ready to cut his losses. He stomps off, leaving me to work my magic.

“You’d do that?” Robert asks when I turn back around, looking pleasantly shocked. “I mean, Mr. Brighton would do that?”

“Of course. With or without a meeting next week. But we’d like to ask you to reconsider Mr. Brighton’s offer. The man you’re selling to—Edison—he’s not a good man.”

Mr. Ross’s forehead creases with worry. “Is that so? I’ve had an unsettling feeling about that fellow. I can’t put a finger on it but something about him just doesn’t sit right with me.”

Shit. I’m getting somewhere. I’m getting through to him.

“The whole town of Starlight Falls loves your property and would hate to see it go to a selfish man like Edison,” I say.

Robert stares at me, assessing me for a long moment. Then he nods. “Fine. One meeting over lunch. I’ll hear Mr. Brighton out.”

I let out the breath I’ve been holding, knowing that if Darius can sit down to negotiate with Robert, he might be able to convince him to do the right thing.

Robert gives me his personal phone number, instructing me to call him next week to make arrangements for a lunch meeting. By now, he’s become super chatty and he’s pouring on the charm really thick. I quickly make an excuse, say my goodbyes and run off.

But in my haste to exit that awkward conversation, I forget to check my surroundings. I only get a few steps before I run smack dab into my parents.

Shit cakes.

“Elizabeth. Darling,” my mother gushes, her eyes wide with surprise. “We didn’t expect to run into you here.” She eyeballs me from top to bottom and her lips instantly turn downward in distaste.

Ugh.

I’d rather be talking to Robert Ross—even as he tries to peek down the front of my gown—than to have to deal with my parents in person.

One look at us, and you can see that we have nothing in common except a last name. My mother and father are over the top with their extravagance. They’re new money and they still feel like they have something to prove. They love to wear loud designer labels, drive the flashiest cars, and simply flaunt their wealth for all to see.

It’s everything I despise.

My mother is even walking around this event with her checkbook and thousand dollar pen in her hand right now…even though I don’t see any indication that she’s written a single check tonight. It’s all for show.It’s always for show.

“Don’t be rude, Elizabeth,” my father hisses. They know I hate being called by my given name. No one calls me Elizabeth. Except for them. “Oh, Edison. There you are! ”

My father heads off to where Edison is slinking out of a coat closet a few feet away.

Dad throws me a cursory glance. “Elizabeth—don’t you want to say hello to Edison?” My father suggests, all while pretending not to notice the disheveled server who is now sneaking out of that same closet, trying to get her crinkled blouse tucked back into her waistband.

Are you serious? My parents are still schmoozing with my sister’s ex-fiancé?

My lip curls in disgust. “I’d rather eat worms,” I mumble. But Dad is too busy fawning over the rat bastard to notice.

Edison happens to glance in my direction as my father fan-boys over him. We make eye contact.

He snarls. I snarl back.

Ew. That man never fails to give me the ick.

Turning away, I pull my mother to the side.“Seriously? After everything he did to Daphne, you still entertain that man?” I ask.

My mother fakes a smile for anyone who might be watching. Probably much to her disappointment, no one is.

“Elizabeth,” my mother says through gritted teeth. “Don’t act like this here. You know that Edison is almost like family to us.”

That gets my blood boiling. I try not to raise my voice. I really do. But when it comes to protecting my sister, I can never really help myself.

“Family?!” I spit out. “Daphne is your family! She’s your flesh and blood. She’s your daughter! And here you are, chumming it up with the guy who almost ruined her life?!”

Mother Dearest isn’t too pleased with me right about now. I speak my mind. I don’t let my moral compass get bowled over by the winds of social expectations. It’s one of the many things she doesn’t like about me. It’s why my parents will always like Daphne more than they do me.

Which is fine in my book.

I don’t need their validation. I really don’t. I swear.So how come they always manage to get me this worked up?

Darius and I make eye contact across the room. He reads the expression on my face and he’s instantly abandoning his billion dollar friends and moving in my direction.

I return my focus to my mother. “Don’t kid yourself. This isn’t about family . It’s about money . Like it always is. And Edison has loads of it, so you’re loyal to him over your own daughter. At least have the decency to just admit that and stop lying to yourself.”

My mother’s icy eyes narrow and she stares back at me. I can tell that she’s trying to calculate the social risks associated with scolding me in front of everyone. She won’t. Her reputation is far too important.

So she just stands there, with that fake smile and her soulless eyes. “Darling, let’s not cause a scene.”

In an instant, Darius is standing by my side, his eyes bouncing between my mother and me. “Everything all right here?” he asks, looking tall and handsome and territorial.

I manage to fake a smile. “Everything’s great.” My attention returns to the woman who gave birth to me. “Good evening, Mother. We should do this all again next year.” I start to walk off. “On second thought, let’s make it a whole two years next time.”

As I stomp away, I’m shaking with anger. I’m reminded yet again that rich people really have no scruples. I hate them all. They’re all the same. Hiding behind their money and their fake personalities and their selfish intentions.

I feel a large, warm hand at the small of my back. But instead of providing comfort, this time, Darius’s touch makes my spine go ramrod stiff.

He is just the same. He’s just like my awful parents . Of course he is. I can’t trust him and I never will.

When it comes down to choosing money or doing the right thing, they’ll always choose money.Every. Single. Time.

The only reason I’m helping him with this whole waterfall thing now is because he’s the lesser of two evils.

At least I hope so.